Rx450h Door Card removal and repairs

[Cuffley]

Hi can anybody recommend someone who could fix the damage in the pictures please? Or Also I can buy a n/s/f  second hand door card/ panel. But my armrest is a different colour? Is it possible to remove the arm rest so that I could swap them over?   
 

Thanks 

[m4rkw]

I had good results with these guys: http://www.serviceupholstery.co.uk

Probably a bit far from you though. 

[m4rkw]

Removing the cards isn’t too tricky, there’s a plastic piece where the inner handle is that pulls off, underneath is a bolt.  In the arm rest is a small piece of felt that comes out, under that is a second bolt. Remove the window controls and disconnect them. With those two bolts out you can start to pry it off the frame, you’ll have to lift it slightly to get it apart at the top. Not too much though and be gentle or you can break things. Once away from the frame slightly disconnect the two bowden cables inside being careful not to tug on them too much, and the electrical connector for the puddle light if you have one. 

Note: I did this on an RX-300 but I can’t see it being hugely different on a 400. It’s worth getting a plastic pry tool and a spare bag of push clips before you start. 

[Cuffley]

Thanks for that. Do you know if the armrest can be removed somehow? 

[m4rkw]

1 hour ago, Cuffley said:

Thanks for that. Do you know if the armrest can be removed somehow? 

Don’t know. Maybe but you might need special glue to reattach it. Not something i’d attempt at any rate!

[m4rkw]

I guess you could try a breaker, look for a door card in really bad condition to experiment with and see how easy it is to remove the arm rest before attempting it on one you care about.

[Cuffley]

So they are glued together then? Older cars I’ve had, there was always a way to remove and replace.  Oh well it seems a repair is the only way to go? 

[m4rkw]

I don’t know i’ve never tried to remove them 

[Cuffley]

Thanks for your help. 

[Cuffley]

Just to let you know. They want £180 to fix it? A bit steep for what it is. But the good news is that the armrest does detach from the door card. Just going to buy a used door card and swap armrests over.